Medical research has been up and running for eons hence resulting in numerous medical breakthroughs.

In this 21st century where technology is the backbone of everything, medical research has gone an extra mile to ensure that it catches up with advancements. In medicine, every new discovery brings in a lot of hope and sparks encouraging milestones. Atelion’s recent study has taken the medical research field an additional step ahead thus representing a significant milestone for medicine.

Background Information

Atelion is a pharmaceutical company that deals with rare diseases. As a company, its primary focus is on developing innovative drugs that help to improve the quality of life of patients living with life-threatening diseases.

With a struggling history of high unmet medical needs, a recent breakthrough in medicine comes from Atelion Pharmaceutical’s study. The pharmaceutical company announced the results of its phase 3 clinical trials which showed promising results in patients suffering from a rare lung disease.

The Study

The study was conducted on a rare lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In most cases, IPF is fatal since it causes progressive scarring of the lungs.

Even though the disease has no known cause, it affects about three million people across the world, and that number is expected to keep increasing. Atelion’s study involved testing of a drug called “nintedanib” in IPF patients and a placebo. The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, and it involved patients from 15 countries.

The Drug – Nintedanib

Nintedanib is a drug that works by inhibiting the proteins that cause lung scarring to halt further fibrosis. The drug does not cure IPF, but it helps to slow down the progression of the disease significantly.

Nintedanib was approved for use in 2014, and it is currently sold under the brand name OFEV. This drug has previously been tested in two other clinical trials, one of which showed a decline in the decline of the forced vital capacity, which is a measure of lung functions.

The study also showed a decrease in the rate of acute IPF exacerbations and improved the quality of life of the patients.

The Results

The study had compelling results since it met the primary endpoint of decreasing the annual rate of decline in lung function by at least 50%.

Patients who were taking the drug Nintedanib had a -41.6 ml/year contrasted to patients under the placebo who had -240.9 ml/year. The study showed positive results in patients who had a vital capacity of over 80% and those who had honeycombing lung patterns.

The study also met its secondary endpoints, which included reducing the risk of acute exacerbations and improving the quality of life for IPF patients. Atelion’s study has provided a new drug therapy option for patients living with IPF hence representing a significant milestone for medicine.

The Significance of the Study

Atelion Pharmaceutical’s study represents a significant milestone in medicine since it provides hope for IPF patients.

For years, the treatment options for IPF have been limited, and most patients had to deal with the fact that the disease was progressive. The approval of nintedanib for IPF changes this narrative since it slows down the progression of the disease significantly. The study also provides hope for further research and development of drugs that can halt lung scarring.

Finally, the study brings in a new era of drug treatment therapies that go a long way in improving the quality of life of patients.

Other Milestones in Medical Research

Atelion Pharmaceutical’s study provides a new milestone in medical research hence adding on to numerous medical breakthroughs. Other significant findings in the medical field, which represent milestones, include:.

The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 – This discovery revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections.
In 1952, Jonas Salk developed a vaccine for polio hence reducing the polio epidemic in the US.
In 1983, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, was found.
The mapping of the human genome in the early 2000s was also a significant milestone in medicine since it provided a better understanding of diseases.

Conclusion

Atelion Pharmaceuticals’ study marks a significant milestone in medicine and medical research. The study shows positive results in treating a rare lung disease, IPF, which provides hope for IPF patients.

The study also represents a new era of drug treatment therapies that improve the quality of life of patients living with life-threatening diseases. With such milestones, it is possible to look forward to more breakthroughs in medicine that help to provide a cure for numerous diseases that medical professionals are yet to find answers for.